Knife eraser



(No Model.)

KNIFE ERASER.

r v m? w W a I. W D nu m e M P 0 MW M flaw J M 1 UN TED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

WILLIS GRIFFIN, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

KNIFE ERASER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,240, dated December 28, 1897.

Application filed January 2, 1896. Serial No. 574,049. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIS GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented acertain Improved Combination-Tool for Office Use, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective of a tool embodying my invention, said tool being shown in position to be used as an eraser. Fig. 2 is a view of the device in position to be used as a pencil-sharpener. Fig. 3 is a detail of the head of the implement.

Said tool comprises a head, a shank in rear of head, and terminal extensions rearwardly of the shank to serve as handles. As shown in the present instance, said members are composed of wire. The head portion is formed by looping the wire, the shank portion by contracting and extending the wire rearwardly of the head, and the handle extensions are formed by bending the shank members abruptly outwardly and then rearwardly from the shank. This construction gives abifurcated shank the members whereof are normally spring-pressed apart and may be set together by pressing the handles, so as to lay hold of a pen or smaller implement which it may be desired to pull from its stock without handling the same. The handle extensions are preferably provided with covers f, formed of wood, and carry in their outer ends erasive rubbers. sockets to receive the handle extensions and are removable therefrom to be exchanged for others when new erasive materials are desired.

In the present instance I have shown this implementas having a head, shank, and handles formed of a single piece of wire, the head being substantially a circular loop thereof; but I do not limit myself to such construction, as obviously ordinary skill would enable the workman to construct a body-frame of other than wire material. In 'the head portion is set a blade-holding clamp, its mouth being made to open therethrongh at one side of the longitudinal axis of the shank and extending from the end face of the head to the loop in center thereof. It is set for holding the blade at an angle, preferably, of about forty-five degrees to said axial line. The blade-hold- These covers are provided with ing clamp is provided with a clamp-screw m, whereby the members of the clamp are pinched together for grasping and holding the blade c. To that end the blade is formed with a shank adapted to enter the bladeholding clamp and preferably slotted to embrace the clamp-screw m. Instead of the blade-holding clamp being employed, it will be advisable in many cases, particularly where an exchange of blades is not desirable, to set the blade in the head and fasten it with solder or other securing means. The head is enlarged to form a rest at. In the operation of the implement for erasive purposes this rest may bear upon the material in sliding touch therewith and thus assist the workman in guiding, setting, and manipulating the touch of the blade to. It further operates to hold that portion of the knife-blade next adjacentto the head lifted from the paper and thereby protects it from being dulled in the erasive process. This portion of the blade is used for sharpening pencils and the like. The rest 'n has its face smoothed, so that it may be separately used asabuft'er to slick and smooth the abraded surface.

In using the implement generally, and particularly in using it as a pencil-sharpener and for similar purposes, one member is grasped in the hand while the other handle member passes outwardly between the index and mid dle fingers, the index-finger resting against the shank, as fully shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2. The implement is designed with special reference to facilitating this method of grasping and using the same. To this end the blade at is projected from the end face of the head at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the shank, whereby when the implement is grasped, as stated, the blade is located in position for making a drawing out against the pencil or other article worked upon. The end face of the head forms a rest h at one side of the blade as a means for guiding pencils and similar articles against the blade, and the outer surface or end face of the head is preferably curved in longitudinal section, whereby opportunity is allowed for presenting the pencil well under the blade and receive the most eifective action .of the drawing out. Then, too, the blade is set with relation to the handle extensions, so that a plane passing through the handle and shank members longitudinally will, if projected, include the cutting edges of the blade. The top edge of the blade is preferably sharpened for cutting envelops and similar purposes.

I clain1- 1. A device of the character indicated, comprising a body, a blade affixed thereto, and a bifurcated shank extending from said body, the sides of said shank forming a clamp, and handle extensions; substantiallyas described.

2. A device of the character indicated, comprising a body, a blade aiiixed thereto, and a bifurcated shank extending from said body, the sides of said shank being normally springpressed apart and movable toward each other and having the handle extensions; substantially as described.

3. Adevice of the character indicated, comprising a body portion, a head having an angular chamber therein and provided at one side of its longitudinal axis with an opening extending through said head and connecting said chamber with the outer face of the head, a rest upon said head on the side of said axial line, a clamp located in said chamber and having an opening corresponding with the opening through the head, said clamp fitting the angular chamber to prevent turning, and a blade passing through the opening in the head and entering said clamp, said blade being supported at an angle of about fortyfive degrees to the axial line; substantially as described.

4-. A device of the character indicated, coniprising a body formed of a piece of Wire, the outer portion of which is of curved cross-section, said wire being formed into a substantially circular loop, the free ends of the wire then extending for a distance parallel one to the other, said free ends each then extending outwardly and rearwardly, a slot in the Wire in said loop at one side of the longitudinal axis thereof, a blade passing through said opening and secured within said loop, said blade projecting at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the said longitudinal axis, handles fitting upon the rearwardly-extending portions of the wire, and erasive rubbers carried by said handles; substantially as described.

5. Adevice of the charaoterindicated, comprising a head, a shank and handle of a single piece of wire, the head being substantially a circular loop of said Wire, a slot in the Wire of said head at one side of the longitudinal axis of said shank, said slot extending from the end face through to the center loop of the head, combined with a blade pass in g through said slot and projecting forwardly and upwardly from the end face of the head at an angle of about forty-five degrees to said longitudinal axis.

Signed at Lynn this 24th day of December, A. D. 1895.

WILLIS GRIFFIN. Witnesses:

O. B. TUTTLE, M. M. TUTTLE. 

